Sports
Hockey

Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean (centre) along with Assistant GM Tim Murray (right) and Scouting and Development Consultant Jason Smith watch during the Sens Development Camp at the Bell Sensplex. July 3,2013. Errol McGihon/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

Tim Murray has cleared the final hurdle and will named GM of the Buffalo Sabres Thursday, the Ottawa Sun has confirmed.

Murray had dinner with Sabres owner Terry Pegula and president Pat LaFontaine Wednesday night in Buffalo and agreed to a contract.

Pierre Dorion and Randy Lee will be named co-assistant GM's in the next few days by Senators GM Bryan Murray.

As the Sun reported first on Monday, Murray was the frontrunner for the job that came open in November when Darcy Regier was fired.

"The Sabres want somebody with a scouting background and Tim Murray has a strong scouting background," said a league executive Wednesday morning.

While the two sides have been trying to get together since Monday, weather issues in Buffalo had delayed the 50-year-old Murray's ability to travel to the city. The club's game against the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday at home was postponed because of a snowstorm.

Other candidates -- including Brad Treliving of Phoenix -- had been told they are out of the running.

Bryan Murray has been working on a contract extension with the Senators that will likely be done by the end of the month.